August 21st, 2014

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your car could talk to other vehicles on the road? Well, no need to ponder anymore. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is possible and the technology could make everyone on the road safer.

Proposed regulations
In August, the DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave notice that it's drafting a report on the safety benefits of V2V communication as well as giving advanced notice of a proposed rulemaking that would require V2V communication in vehicles if enacted.

The report will include the NHTSA's research findings on whether the technology is feasible, how privacy and security issues could be handled, the estimated costs as well as the anticipated benefits of the communication feature. Also in the report will be the preliminary estimates for two particular safety features: left turn assist and intersection movement assist, both of which, the NHTSA believes could prevent up to 592,000 car accidents and save 1,083 lives each year.

"Safety is our top priority, and V2V technology represents the next great advance in saving lives," said Anthony Fox, U.S. transportation secretary. "This technology could move us from helping people survive crashes to helping them avoid crashes altogether - saving lives, saving money and even saving fuel thanks to the widespread benefits it offers."

How does it work?
V2V communications is based on radio signals transmitted from one vehicle to another. The radio signals of the cars tell each other their position, direction, speed and more, which can alert drivers when a collision is possible. The technology works up to 300 yards away and enables cars to "see" vehicles hidden around corners.

Have an opinion on talking cars?
DOT is seeking public comments on the technology and proposed rule at regulations.gov.

Whether or not the cars of the future will be able to talk to each other, you need to have the best auto insurance that fits your budget. You can check out the prices in your area by using CoverHound to compare provider's quotes.